If there is one thing that many apartment and commercial real estate investors need more of, it’s time. This is especially true if the investor also manages the property themselves. Even if a property management company is running the daily operations, the investor still has to “manage the managers” and stay on top of the operation.

Needless to say, time management is a big issue these days for investors. This includes even part-time investors that must balance a separate career or business with their apartment business.

I have found a time management tip that has worked wonders for me. I use this strategy regularly in my business, and it is something you can implement quickly and easily into your investment.

Here it is:

At the beginning of each week, block out at least two to three hours to spend on your commercial investment properties. What you do here is literally make an appointment with yourself AND keep the appointment. There are two things that must happen in order for this to work for you.

1. Keep the appointment and DO NOT schedule anything else during that time frame.
This is important, so do not think otherwise. If you think to yourself, “oh I will do it later,” guess what…you won’t! Keep this scheduled appointment with yourself just as you would if you were going to see your doctor, dentist, or other important appointment.

2. Uninterrupted. This needs to be completely uninterrupted time.
This means no phone calls, no TV on in the background, no one coming into your room or office, etc. No interruptions. Above all, no cell phone.

I know it sounds easy, but it is not. What I have found to work best for me is to literally leave the office and go to a coffee shop where no one can find me. This is basically a “hiding place” from my staff, vendors, anyone that would otherwise interrupt this important strategy time.

I will give you some tips in a future article to get this to work even better for you, and increase your time management even more. Keep in mind that the most successful investors I work with practice this religiously, so give it a try in your business.